Pump or the like



May 22, 1928.

A. L. WELSH PUMP OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 21, 1924' Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED L. WELSH, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 ALLIS-CHALMEBSMAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 01 DELA-wean.

PUMP OR THE LIKE.

Application filed January 21, 1924. Serial a... 687,483.

This invention relates in general to fluid pumping apparatus, or thelike and it has more particular relation to fiuid pumps wherein eitherthe rotor, or both the rotor and easing, are provided with a rotectivecoating or liner for the purpose 0 preventing or reducing erosion of thestructure of these elements.

The matter of erosion of parts of fluid pumps and the like has been aserious problem, especially when the material handled is of an acid or asandy or gritty nature. The latest improvements in connection withapparatus adapted for this general class of work includes the provisionof a liner for the casing of the apparatus, or preferably for both thecasin and rotor, of a relatively soft, resilient ru her, a materialwhich has decided acid resistant qualities and, further, is highlyresistant to the abrading or erosion action of sand or gritty material.A commercial type 0 pump of this general character is disclosed in U. S.Patent No. 1,404,717, granted to N. W. Hum hrey on Jan. 24, 1922, thepump therein isclosed including liners or coverings of relatively softrubber for both the casing and impeller, the liner for the casingelement being preliminarily assembled on and anchored to a relativelythin, flexible sheet metal backing plate of a configuration closelyapproximatingx that of the inner wall ofthe casin One specific featureand object of the present invention is concerned with an improved methodand construction for assembling-and holding the casing liner in oerative position in the casing. Highly satlsfactory commercial resultsare secured in apparatus of this type through the provisions disclosedherein, in accordance with which the flexible rubberliner or the backingplate therefor,

both bein usually formed 1n separable sections, or 0th the liner andbacking plate sections, are provided withperipheral flanges which arepositioned and held between corresponding peripheral fianges on thesections of the cas1ng. Through this feature of design and construction,the flanges on the, liner assist in roperl centering or positioning andho ding tie liner in effective manner in the casing, and they likewiseare of utility in efiectively gasket-ing the joint at the flanges on thecasing.

This and. other objects and advantages the end of this base or frame.

are attained by the present invention, various novel features of whichwill be apparent from they description and drawings, disclosing anembodiment of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims.

The present invention finds particular utility in connection withapparatus embod ing the inventions of N. W. Humphrey, disc osed in hisaforementioned Patent No.,1,404,717, and his Patent No. 1,591,939, July6, 1926, the latter relating to improvements concerning the sealing ofjoints orconnections of inlet and outlet conduits to the pump casmg. 1

In the accompanyin drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertica section of a rubberlined pump embodying features ofthe present invent1on.- i

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the dFischarge portion of thepump disclosed in Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section showing a,detail of the present invention.

As disclosed in the drawings, the main outer casing of a centrifugalpump is formed in two sections 2, 3, a rotor or impeller 4 within thecasing, an'inlet or suction paspeller and communicating with atangential discharge conduit 7.

A bearing 8 for the shaft 9 of the impeller is carried by a base orframe 10, and the casing of the pump is supported from The inner wall ofthe casing sections 2, 3, are protected by sections of a soft rubberliner 12, 13, respectively, which are preferably preliminarily securedor anchored as by vulcanizing, the metal backing plates 14, 15,respectively. The casing sections with the liner sections assembledtherein, are clamped and held together by means of peripheral flanges16, 17 on the casing sections which are provided with o enings forreceiving clamping bolts'18 whic also pass through flan es 21, 22 of therubber liner sections and anges 23, 24 of the metal backing plates, andserve to hold these sections in assembled condition Within the casingwherein they form a complete fluid-tight coveringfor the interior of thecasing, the structure being effectively sealed by these coacting flangeson" the parts. The preferred arrangement of the peripheral. flanges onthe liner sections and the method of securing the same in positionbetween the flanges of the casing sections are disclosed more in detailin Fig. 3. Sheet metal disks or clamping plates 25 may be insertedbetween the casing flanges and the flanges on the liner sections toprevent dis tortion of the latter. Removal of the casing section 2 withits liner sectionpermits free access to all portions of the interior ofthe casing, without necessitating disturbance of the pump supportingsection 3.

The impeller 4: comprises a series of outwardly directed vanes extendingfrom the suction passage 5 to the discharge chamber 6, and a hub formedintegrally with the vanes and constituting a support therefor. The hubportion of the impeller extends into a tubular portion of the casingsection 3 at the inner side thereof opposite the inlet 5, the open endof this tubular portion belng closed by a stuffing box 28 through whichthe shaft of the impeller passes in fluid tight relation. The entireimpeller, including the vanes and the hub, is provided with a coating 31of soft rubber or similar resilient material which is adapted to protectthe structure of the impeller against the action of gritty substance orchemicals having an erosive effect, which may be contained in the fluidpassing through the pump. The impeller hub is bored to snugly fit thereduced end portions 32, 33 of the impeller shaft,

and is drivingly connected to the shaft by .means of one or more keys 34located in suitable key ways in the hub and shaft.

Means are provided to permit adjustment of the impeller 4 relative tothe casing sections after the pump is assembled, these means beingoperable from the exterior of the casing and, besides performing thisadjustment function serving to effect removal of the impeller from itsshaft, when the casing section 2 is removed. This impeller adjusting andremoving means comprises an annular slee e 35 surrounding the shaft andextending through the stuffing box 28. The end 'of the sleeve adjacentthe hub is provided with an external left hand screw thread 36 coactingwith an internal screw thread on the hub. The portion 37 of the coating31 at the inner side of; the hub snugly fits the peripheral surface ofthe sleeve 35, thereby preventing fluid from en-- tering the screwthread 36. The end of the sleeve 35 remote from the impeller is providedwith an internal right hand screw thread coacting with an external screwthread on the adjacent portion of the shaft. This threaded portion has aseries of longitud-inal recesses 38 within one of which a set screw 39,passing transversely through the. sleeve, may coact to lockto the shaftin adjusted position. The internally threaded end, of the sleeve .35 islocated betweenthe gland of the stuffing box and the bearmg, and isprovided with one or more holes 41 to receive a tool for rotating thesleeve relative to the shaft, when the set screw 39 is removed. Thesleeve 35, besides serving for adjusting and removing the impeller 4, 18preferably formed of suitable wear-resisting material so as to provideprotection for the portion of the shaft within the sleeve.

Instead of having the side walls of the backing plates for the linersections supported throughout the entire surface thereof on the innerwall of the casing sections, the sections of the backing plates engageand are supported by the casing only at spaced points which arepreferably accurately machined to provide close engagement and efficientsupport of the liner by the casing. These surfaces or pads on the casingsections with which the cooperative surfaces on the backing platesengage, are indicated at 45, 46 on the casing section 2 and at 47, 18 onthe casing section 3, and they are preferably of annular form and,hence, may be readily machined, and they may be considered as gaugepoints for properly position ing the liner sections. The backing platesmay be made of the same size as or slightly larger thanthe interior ofthe pump, and being comparatively. thin and flexible, they will readilysnugly seat themselves on the pump casing, properly conforming in shapeto that of the lnterior of the casing and thus leaving annular spaces49, 50 and 4:9, 50* between themselves and the casing.

lVhen the casing sections are secured together by means of the bolts 18passing through the casing flanges and the flanges of the linersections, the coacting portions of the liner sections are effectivelybrought into engagement with and are supported by the gauge points ormachined pads on the inner wall of the casing sections. If desired, thespaces between the metal backing plates of the liner section and theinner wall of the casing may be filled with an initially plasticsuitable seats or "finished high spdts ensur faces of engagement betweenthe backing plates of the liner sections and the inner wall of thecasing sections reatly reduces the cost of'manufacturearfl' itcooperates with the provision of coacting peripheral flanges on thelinersections in securing accurate centering and in insuring theobtaining and maintaining of proper clearances.

As indicated more in detail in Fig. 3, the

tubular portion of the backing plate section 14 for the rubber linersection 12 is tapered along its outer wall at the inlet 5, as indicatedat 51, and the rubber liner extends axially beyond the outlet thistubular portion of the backing plate, preferably to or beyond the outersurface of the inlet portion of the casing section; and the material ofthe rubber lincr at this point surrounds the beveled portion of thebacking plate, the effect being that the outer tubular end of thisbacking plate section is embedded in the rubber material of the liner,being anchored therein as by initial vulcanizing. The ma terial of theliner is in substantial engagement at this point with the body portion,or pads thereon, of the wall of the inlet portion 5 of the casingsection.

The pump is connected to an inlet conduit 53, preferably by means of anend flange 54 on the conduit and a soft rubber or other resilient gasket56 disposed between the flange 54 and the outer surface of the tubularportion 26 of the rubber liner and the tubular, inlet 5 of the casing.When the inlet conduit is bolted or otherwise clamped in operativeposition through its flange, the

parts effectively seal and prevent the entrance of fluid to the spacebetween the liner and its backing plate and the inner wall of the casingsection.

At the tangential discharge 7 of the pump casing, the semi-circular endsof the casing sections and the liner therefor are clamped in operativeposition by means of the peripheral flanges on the casing and thecorresponding. flanges on the liner sections which are held between thecasing flanges. As indicated at 52 in Fig. 2, the outer end of thetubular portion of the backing plate sections is beveled and terminatesshort of the corresponding portion of the "rubber liner sections, thelatter being so formed as to extend outside of and surround the beveledend portion of the backing plate sections, as at the inlet conduit,these latter portions bein anchored, as by vulcanizing, within the ruber portions; This outer tubular portion of the liner sections is positioned and supported in the discharge 7 preferably through engagementwith an interior annu ar rib or spaced lugs 58 on the inner surface ofthe casing adjacent the flan e'portions 59. The rib or lugs 58, and 51eengagement between the same and the liner sections may be considered theequivalent of additional gauge oints forpositioning the liner sectionswith-1n the casing.

A discharge conduit 61 is secured in operative position relative to thetangential discharge 7 of the casing, preferably by means of a flange 62on the conduit and an intermediate rubber or other flexible gasket 63which covers the enlarged outer end of the rubberliner sections and theflange 59 on the caslng sections at this point, the arrange ment beingsuch as to force and hold the parts in such secure and fluid-tightmanner as to prevent the leakage of fluidto the space between thebacking plates of the liner sections and the inner wall of the pumpcasing.

As indicated, eflective fluid-tight closure of the space between theliner and the casing wall, at the tubular portion of the-casing at theinner side thereof, is secured by embedding the beveled end of thetubular portlon of the'baeking in the rubber liner, a rubber or similarresllient gasket being inserted and held between the end of the rubberliner and the inner end of the stuffing box 28.

The features describedherein as to terminating the metal backing plateshort of the end of the rubber liner at the tubular inlet and dischargeportions thereof and embedding the end of the backing plate in therubber liner at these points are more specifically claimed in theaforementioned patent of N. W. Humphrey No. 1,591,939, July 6, 1926.During the normal operation of the pump, the impeller is rotated withinthe casing, thereby causing the impeller vanes to deliver fluid into thedischarge chamber 6 from which the fluid is discharged through thetangential discharge conduit 7. The fluid thus passing through theimpeller is delivered from the suction passage 5 directly against theend of the impeller hub which is formed to deflect the flow and todirect the water toward the impeller vanes. The soft rubber linersections of the casing and the coating 31 of the impeller serve toresist the destructive action of gritty substances or chemicalscontained in the fluid, upon the pump elements. The protective linersections and the coating on the im eller may be readily replaced whenworn, ree access to the interior of the pump for purpose of inspectionor removal of coated elements being affected by removal ofthe bolts 18of the casing section 2. The adjusting and removing device for theimpeller and its shaft is readily operable from the exterior of the pumpcasing and entirely avoids the necessity of puncturing or perforatingthe coating 31 of the'impeller. It will be apparent that the adjustablemounting of the impeller on the shaft enables rapid adjustment andremoval of the impeller and permits the latter to be entirely removedwithout necessitating removal of the shaft'9 or the sleeve 35. Thissleeve, moreover, provides efiicient said casing being divided on acentral plane substantially at right angles to the axis and havingflanges for securing the two parts together, a lining for the interiorof the pump comprising a relatively th1n flex ble sheet metal backingand a rubber facing adapted to be pressably seated, said sheet metalbacking being divided on substantially the same plane and provided withperiph-= eral flangcsat said divide, said latter flanges being clampedbetween the flanges of said casing, and serving as centering means forsaid backing'and said rubber facing.

2. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing being divided on aplane substantially at right angles to the axis and having flanges forsecuring the two parts together, a protective covering for the interiorof said pump comprising a pressably seated sheet metal backing and arubber facing, said said sheet metal backing being divided onsubstantially the same plane and provided with flanges for clampingbetween said casing flanges, saidrubber facing being con tinuedoutwardly at said divide and providing a flange to lie between saidsheet metal backing flanges whereby the casing divide is provided with agasket, the flanges of said sheet metal backing serving as centeringmeans for said protective covering as said sheet metal backing ispressably seated Within said casing.

"3. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing being divided onaplane substantially at right angles to the axis and having flanges forclamping the twoparts together, a protective lining for the interior ofthe pump comprising a relatively thin sheet metal backing being stampedto conform to said interior, a plurality of finished surfaces on saidinterior for forming a seat for said metal backing, flanges formed onsaid sheet metal backing on substantially the same plane, said casingflanges being gasketed by the last said flanges and when clampedtogether compressibly seating said backing in said casing.

4. In a pump for pumping abrasive ma.- terial, a casing divided on aplane at substantially right angles to its axis and having peripheralflanges, means for clamping the ca ing parts together, a protectivelining for the interior of the pump comprising a relatively thin sheetmetal backing and a rubber facing each having a peripheral flange lyingin the plane of division of the casing and clamped between the casingflanges by said clamping means, said lining being centered by the pumpparts and press-ably seated within the casing by said clamping means.

5. Ina centrifugal pump, a casing having an axial inlet and a peripheraloutlet, said casing being divided on a central plane substantially atright angles to the axis and having flanges for securing the twosections of the casing together, and a lining for the interior of saidcasing comprising a relatively thin metal backing and a rubber facingtherefor, said metal backing being d1- vided on substantially the sameplane as the casing and provided with peripheral flanges at said divide,said rubber facing provided with a peripheral flange adapted to hebetween the peripheral' flanges of said metal backing and to serve as aseal for the seam formed at the flanges of said casing sections, theflanges of said backing serving as centering means for properly seatingthe rubber facing when said latter flanges are clamped between theflanges of said casing sections.

6. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing divided on .a planesubstantially at right angles to the axis and having flanges andclamping bolts for securing the two sections of the casing together, anda protective lining for the interior of the pump comprising a relativelythin sheet metal backing and a rubber facing therefor eachhavingperipheral flanges adjacent the plane of division between the casingsections, said peripheral flanges of said lining lying between thecasing flanges whereb said clamping bolts passtherethrough an serve todraw the flanges of said sheet metal backing and said rubber facing intoposition between said peripheral casing flanges for centering saidprotective lining as it is pressably seated within said casing by saidclamping action,

7. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing divided into aplurality of sections having flanges for facilitating securing thecasing flanges and serving to center said lining as the latter is seatedin said casing.

8. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing divided into aplurality of sec tions having flanges for facilitating securing saidsectionsv together, and a protective lining for the interior ofsaidcasing comprising a relatively soft rubber facing and a relatively thinsheet metal backing secured to said facing, said lining being divided insections corresponding to said casing sections, and said rubber facingbeing provided with flanges for clamping between said casing flanges andserving to seal the joint between the casing sections in a fluidtightmanner.

9. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing divided into aplurality of sec tions having flanges for facilitating secur- IFS am;for the interior of said-casing comprising a relatively soft rubberfacing and a relatively thin sheet metal backing secured to said facing,said lining being divided in sections corresponding to said casingsections, and said rubber facing and said sheet metal backing beingprovided with flanges for clamping between said casing flanges andserving to position said lining as the latter is seated in said casingand to seal the joint between the casing sections in fluidtight manner.

10. In a centrifugal pump, a casing divided into a plurality of sectionshaving flanges for facilitating securing said sections together, and aprotective lining for the interior of said casing comprising anerosionresisting composition facing and a relatively thin sheetmetalbacking secured to said facing, said lining being divided in sectionscorres onding to said casing sections, and said s set metal backingbeing provided with flanges for clamping between the casing flanges andserving to center said lining as the latter is seated in said casing.

'11. In a centrifugal pump, a casing divided into a plurality ofsections having flanges for facilitating securing said sectionstogether, and a protective lining for the interior of said casingcomprising an erosion-resisting composition facing and a relatively thinsheet metal backing secured to said facing, said lining being divided insections corresponding to said casing sections, and said compositionfacing being prosaid facing, said lining vided with flanges for clampingbetween said casing flanges and serving to assist in sealing the jointbetween the casing sections in a fluid-tight manner.

12. In a centrifugal pump, a casing divided into a plurality of sectionshaving flanges for facilitating securing said sections together, and aprotective lining for the interior of said casing comprising anerosion-resisting composition facing and a relatively thin sheet metalbacking secured to being divided in sections corresponding to saidcasing sections, and said composition facing and said sheet metalbacking being provided with flanges for clamping between said casingflanges and serving to position said liner as the latter is seated inthe casing and to assist in sealing the joint between the casingsections in a fluid-tight manner.

13. In a pump for pumping abrasive material, a casing, a protectivelining for the interior of said casing, said lining cou1- prising afacing of soft resilient material and a resilient supporting backingtherefor, said casing being divided into sections to permit lateralremoval of said lining, flanges formed on said casing at'said divide,and a resilient extension formed on said protective lining to serve as agasket between adjacent sections of said casing.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is ailixed hereto.

ALFRED L. WELSH.

